Double-seaming tool



J am 16, 1923.

F. B. WENDEL.

DOUBLE SEAIVIING TOOL.

Z SHhETSWSHEEl 2,

FILED JUNE 23,1921.

W/TA/ESSES TTOR/VEYS Patented dan. 16, 11923.

UNET STATES l mirarte Partnr ossicso- FRANS BERTIL WENDEL, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Do'UBLn-SEAMING Toot.

Application filed June 23, 1921. Serial No. 479,812.

To all whom it may conce-ra:

Be it known that I, FRANS BERTIL WEN- 'DEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Double-Seaming Tool, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

r1`his invention relates to Inachines for manufacturing cans and refers more particularly to a seaming tool for associating the can heads with the 4body of the can.

The majority of machines which are now employed for this purpose include a seaming device of the rotary type, thereby consuming an appreciable amount of time.

The invention therefore contemplates a tool which is adapted to be associated with a punch press by means of which the tops and bottoms of the cans may be directly pressed and secured to the can body in a single continuous stroke of the punch press.

The invention further, contemplates a tool adapted to be attached to a punch press for uniting the heads with the body of the can to effect the double seaming, crimping or curling of their juncture in a single continuous stroke of the punch press.

A further object in View resides in the provision of a tool which is capable of handling cans, canisters, or other metal packages, pails or buckets having round, square, rectangular, triangular, or containers of other irregular shapes to effect the association and assembly of the heads and body of the can.

The .invention further contemplates a tool of ,the character described which is eX- tremely simple in its construction. and operation, which is thoroughly reliable and highly efficient in its purpose, and which is readily applicable to or removable from punch presses or other standard machines of this character. v

With the above recited objects and others in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts set fort-h in the following specification, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the right is reserved to embodiments other than those actually illlustrated herein to the -full extent indicated which the claims are expressed and by variations in the phraseology of the same.

In the drawingsn Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the tool or die illustrating the normal arrangement of parts at the beginning of the operation.

Fig. 2 is a similar viewillustrating the arrangement of parts at the completion of the operation and prior to the removal of the can therefrom. r

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5.and 6 are diagrammatic sectional views illustrating the initial, secondary and final steps in their chronological order.

Fig. 7 is a collective plan view of the tension jaws.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 10 designates the head or holder of the tool or die which is provided with a concentric upstanding hollow boss 11 designed to be received by or associated with the reciprocating element of the punch press for movement therewith. The under side of the head is provided with a concentric recess 12 which receives the cup shaped housing 13, the same being secured in place by means ofthe fastening elements 14, such as machine screws or the like, 'whereby the housing is detachably associated with the head 10. The closed upper end 15 of the housing is provided with a central aperture 16 which registers with a recess 17 of a diameter corresponding to the aperturel, said recess 17 being concentric and communicating with the large recess 12. The recess 17 communicates vwith central bore 18 in the bossfll, which is closed at its upper end by means of a centrally apertured head 19. The bore of the housing 13 is provided with upper, intermediate and lower concentrieannular walls 20, 21 and 22, the latter being of increased diameter with relation to the firstmentioned wall and the intermediate wall 21 of a diameter less than t-he latter and greater than ythe former. The intermediate wall 21 is connected to the upper wall 22 by a flared or conical wall 23, and the lower wall 22 is connected to the intermediate wall by a liared or conical wall 24.

' A radially contractible die member consisting of a plurality of identically formed jaws 25 is arranged-within the housing 13, the jaws 25 each consisting of an arcuate element having upper and lower inclined outer walls 26 and 27 connected by the intermediate concentric wall 28v and a lower concentric wall 29 of an increased diameter with respect thereto. In the normal position of the jaws of the die member, the inclined v wallsl 26 engage andv coact with flared or mally received conical wall 23 of the housing, the inclined walls 27 with the flared or conical wall 24 thereof, and the intermediate and lower vertical walls 28 and 29 with the annular walls 21 and 22. The inner periphery of the jaws are provided with upper and lower vertical walls 30 and 31, the latter being of increased radius with respect to the former and said walls being connected by an intermediate flared 'wall l32 at approximately a ten degree angle to the horizontal. A plunger shaft 33` extends through the bore of the boss 11 and through the apertured head 19 thereof. A collar 34 is secured thereto by a transverse pin or key 35, the upper end of said collar being norb the lower end of 'the bore 18 of the boss. coiled compression spring 36 surrounds the plunger shaft 33 and the opposite ends thereof respectively coact with thev head 19 of 'the boss and the upper end of the collar to normally project said plunger shaft downwardly. An abutmenty preferably consisting of a pair of lock nuts 37 are threaded on the projecting extremity of the shaft 33 and coact with the outer end of the boss to limit the downward move ment of the plunger shaft under the action of the spring 36. A spreader member 38 is loosely mounted on the shaft 33, the upper end thereof in lthe normal position of the'tool contacting with the lower end of the sleeve 34. The lower end of the spreader member is provided with an annular peripheral flange 39 having an inclined upper wall 40 which engages and coacts with the intermediate flared walls 32 of the jaws of the die member. The spreader member 38 is provided with a concentric recess 41 inwhich a follower 42 is arranged, said follower being loosely mounted on the plunger shaft 33. A coiled compression spring 43 is interposed between the follower 42 and the closed upper end 44 of the spreader member.

The lower extremity of the plunger shaft 33 is provided with ahead 45 having an annular peripheral flange`46 at its lower end.' A tension member 47 consisting of lq'uadrantal jaws is provided, each of said jaws having upwardly and downwardly projecting portions 48 and 49 connected by an intermediate horizontal portion 50. The horizontal portions 50 of the jaws are supported by the upper surface of the head 45 and the upper ends of the portions 48 underlie the spreader member 38 and clamp the upper closed ,end 44 against the lower end 'wall 55 and an of the sleeve 34 in the normal/ position of ,the tool. The lower end of the downwardly ysprings 51. The springs 51 are arranged in the radially disposed openings 52 of the head 45, the oppositeends thereof respec tively engaging the inner ends of the openings 52 and the pins 53 projecting inwardly from the inner periphery o-f the downwardly projecting portion 49 of `the jaws of the tension member. The innerlower vertical wall of the jaws 25 of the die member, adjacent their lower end are provided withI a groove 54 having a lower horizontal u wardly and inwardly inclined wall 56. Fhe extreme lower end of the inner lower vertical wall 31 below the wall 55 extends slightly inward as at 57 and the lower corner is curved outwardly to pro'-l assembling the c n ends with the body of A the can, the can body A is provided with an out-turned right angularly disposed flange B and the ends C are provided withalI substantially inverted U-shaped flange D which receives and snugly accommodates the D flange end ofthe body. The present tool is des1gned for the purpose' of turning in the outer extremity of the flange D as the first step, andthence turning and disposing the extremity E, flange B and portion F of the flange D against the side of the can body to provide the double seam. In operation, the end C isy positioned over the end of the body A substantially as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The punch press with lwhich the tool is associated is then actuated.

to move the tool downwardly with the reciprocating member thereof. As the tool moves downward over the can end, the head 45 contacts with the endl C being snugly rev ceived between the inverted U-shaped flange D, while the lower end of the downwardly projecting portions 49 of the jaws of the tension memberl 47 contact and engage with the upper edge of the portion F of the flange, thereby arresting further downward movef ment of the head 45, the tension member 47 and the spreader 38. The housing 13 continues to move downward with the reciprocating member of the punch ,press This continued downward movement results in a radial contraction of the jaws 25 of the die member due to the coacting engagement of the flared annular walls 23 and 24 of the bore of the housing with the inclined walls 26 and 27 of the die jaws. Simultaneously the coacting engagement of the intermediate inclined walls 32 of the die jaws with the iso l, inclined upper wall of the Hange 39 of the y around the fiange B of the can body. The

contraction of the die jaws is compensated for byrthe contraction of the jaws ofthe tension member 47 against the action of the springs 51. As the jaws of the tension member 47 are contracted, the upwardly projecting portions 48 thereof move inwardly beyond the periphery of the recess 41 of the spreader member out of engagement with the lower end thereof. This disposes the in-turned end E and the portion F of thev flange D and the liange B in the groove 54 of the die jaws and directly in the path of movement of the `inclined upper wall 56 of the groove. Continued downward movement of the housing 13 brings the closed upper end 15 thereof into contact'with the upper ends of the die jaw, thereby moving the same downwardly against the combined action of the springs 36 and 43 due to the engagement of the upper end of the upwardly projecting portions 48 of the compression member 47 with the follower 42. The downward movement of the die jaws engages the upwardly inclined wall 56 of the groove with the bead of the can there-by bending the same against the side of the upper end of the body A in substantially the manner illustrated in Figure 6, the lower internal vertical wall 31 of the die jaw engaging against the outer edge of said bead and completing the final step in double seaming.

the juncture of the can body with the cover. As the reciprocating member of the punch press .moves upwardly, the operation of the parts of the tool are reversed, the die jaws 25 expanding as the housing 13 raises, the spring 43 forcing the follower downward to disengage the portions 48 of the Ajaws from the bore 41 of the spreader member and the coacting engagement of the intermediate flared walls 32 and the fiared wall 40 of the spreading member effecting outward movement thereof. rllhe spring 36 op# erates to eject or knock out the can. To further insure the ejection of the can the extreme reduced end 59 ofthe flange shaft may coact with the usual knock-out of the punch press. y

It will thus be seen that an extremely simple .tool has been provided for accomplishing the double seaming of the connection betweenthe can end and its body,

which whe-n associated with a punch press will eff-ect such aresult in a single continuous operation or stroke. If desired both can ends may be applied simultaneously by employing two tools working in opposite directlons along the same axis toward each other whereby the top and bottom of the can are double seamed to the body in one operation.

While there has been illustrated and described a single and preferred embodiment of the invention no limitation is to be made to the precise structural details as it is to be understood that variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope and do not depart from the spirit ofthe claims may be resorted to when found expedient.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

1. A tool for joining and double seaming the heads of .a container with the body thereof, comprising a radially contractible die member, a housing member embracing the die member for effecting radial contraction of the die member upon relative axial movement between said members, means carried by the housing member adapted to coact with the container for arresting the movement of the die member whereby to eEect relative axial movement between said members, and means carried by said arresting means for effecting normal expansion of the die member and for causing the retraction of the die member with respect to the container head during the contraction of said'die member.

2. A tool for joining the heads and bodies of containers, comprising a radially contractible die member and a housing member embracing the same, said members having interengageable faces adapted to effect radial contraction of the die member upon axial movement therebetween, a connection between said` members to allow for an axial movement therebetween, a tension element for effecting normal expansion of the die member, a stop element carried by the connection for arresting the movement of the die member, and interengageable means carried by the connection and provided on the die member for effecting a retraction of the die member with respect to the container head during the contraction of said die member.

3. AA tool for joining the heads and bodies of containers and providing a double seam at their juncture, comprising a die member consisting of a plurality of radially contlactible jaws, an open ended housing within which the jaws are arranged, complementary means on the jaws and the housing for effecting radial contraction of the jaws. upon projection of the open end of the `housing therebeyond, means adapted to coact with the container head for arresting the movement of the jaws to cause the projection of said open end of tlie housing therebeyond, and means for effecting a retraction of the aws with respect t o the container en'd during their contraction.

4. A tool for joining the heads and bodies of containers'and providing a double seam vmovement of the jaws to cause the projection of said open end of the housing therebeyond, and means for effecting a retraction of the jaws with respect to the container end' during their contraction, said means comprising an element carried by the arresting means having an inclined face and complementary inclined faces provided on the jaws. j

'5. A tool forl double seamingthe flanged ends of the body andhead of a container,

comprising a housing,"a die member carried by the housing and radially contractible upon the relative movement of the housing with respect thereto, and means carried by the housing adapted to respectively coact with the end of the container and the die f a retractive movement of the die memberV ,during its contraction, as and for the purf* posespecified.

die member while permitting the housing toY continue its movement, whereby radial contraction of said die member is effected, and interengageable means on the die member and the arresting means for` effecting 6. A toolfor jbining the heads of a container to the body thereof, comprising a housing adapted'to be axially ymoved over the ends of the container, a plurality of seaming jaws within the body, interengageable faces on thebody and jaws ladapted to coact upon relative axial movement thereof in one direction for effecting-theradial contraction of the jaws, means carried by the housing adapted to coact with the container end for arresting the axial movement of the- A container-jaws while permitting the'housing to continue its movement tliereover, and

means within the housing engageable with said jaws for effecting an intermittent axial retraction of the jaws duringthe-contraction of the same.

7. A i001 for joining the head of aantainer with the body thereof, comprising a die vmember including a plurality of radially and axially movable jaws, a housing therefor, inclined faces on the jaws, correspondupon relative axial movement of the same in one direction for effecting radial contraction of the jaws, means for normally e'ecting relative axial movement between the housing and die member in` the opposite direc tion, means carried by the'housing adapted to respectively coact with the jaws and the container end to effect the ycontraction of said jaws, and means for effecting an intermediate retractive movement of the jaws during the contraction thereof, as and for the purpose. specified.

8. A tool for uniting the head of a oontainer with the body, comprising a die member, a housing therefor, interengageable means provided respectively on the die member and the housing adapted to coact upon relative axial movements thereof in one direction to effect radial contraction of the die member, means for normally effecting relative axial movement ofthe die member and vhousing in the opposite direction to expand the jaws,means carried by the housing adapted to respectively-coact with the container and die member for arresting the axial movement thereof `while permitting the housing to continue its movement, and interengageable means on the jaws and the latter means adapted to coact to effect the axial relative movement of the jaws with respect to the housing.

I 9. A tool for double seaming the flanged ends of a body and head of a container, comprising a die member'j including a plurality of radially movable jaws, a housing therefor, interengageable mleans provided respectively on the jaws and the housing adapted to coact upon relative axial movement thereof in one direction to effect radial contraction of the jaws, means for normally effecting relative axial movement thereof in the opposite direction to expand the jaws,

a head carried by the housing adapted to respectively coactwith the container and the die member for arresting the axial move ilo of the jaws with respect `to the housing,- and l radially contractible means carried by said head landoperable by thejaws upon final contraction thereof to render the arresting' action lof the head inactive whereby to permit of furtherlmovement ofthe die member with the housing. I

" FRANS BERTIL VVENDELv 

